Heroes Winners & Sucess Stories

NAIA applauds people who provide positive examples in working with animals and supporting human-animal interactions. If you know a hero, winner, or success story, please send details and contact information to heroes@naiaonline.org

The 2003 Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service on behalf of medical research went to Christopher Reeve, the actor who was paralyzed from the neck down after a fall from his horse.
Reeve never gave up; in the...

Senior citizens make up a large percentage of great achievers in obedience and agility. In Cincinnati, Ohio, Jim Hutchins, his wife Ruth, and their Boxers, are truly inspiring.
At age 70, Jim devotes his retirement...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners honored the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association with the Lavin Cup, an equine welfare award presented to organizations that demonstrate exceptional compassion or...

In 1987, Merck & Company began a plan to donate its drug Mectizan to tropical nations suffering from river blindness, a debilitating parasite-borne disease that can infect millions of people annually. As a result...

Everyone knows that animals bring pleasure to people. Many dog owners in particular belong to therapy groups that visit a variety of facilities to bring that pleasure to patients and residents.
The Eden Alternative...

In 1986, a coal company, a bunch of zoos, and an Ohio state agency formed a unique public-private partnership with the ambitious plan to protect and conserve endangered species in natural areas. Today, the Wilds is...

Dozens of organizations responded to a call for help when New Orleans was smashed by Hurricane Katrina in September. One of the first in line was SPCA Cincinnati, Ohio, an association well-known in Ohio and Kentucky...

Ed Owens has been a stamp collector (or philatelist) for nearly 50 years, but his hobby has likely never served him as well as it did over the past several weeks, while he led a charge against the abuses of the US...

To some, he was as wild as the animals he caught on film. To others, he was a consummate showman. But no one could accuse Steve Irwin of ambivalence or complacency.
He knew all too well that wildlife...

To win Best in Show at Westminster is a lifelong dream for most people in the AKC world of dogs. With honors bestowed, it’s easy to see that the dogs feel the thrill of such a win as well—the excitement,...